Refuge du Chardonnet - Arsine

Departure from the Refuge du Chardonnet.

(S) Head south-west and climb up the Ruisseau du Raisin valley.

(1) Take the footbridge over the stream and follow the GR®57 trail heading west-northwest (red and white markings). This will take you to the edge of a marshy area (an old lake that is being filled in).

(2) Walk along the marsh on your right. Continue westwards and climb up to reach a grassy plateau. After a flat area, the path climbs again to reach a small lake (on the left).

(3) The marked path then heads north-west. Climb again to reach the Col du Chardonnet Sud (superb view of the Écrins massif).

(4) Descend on the other side via switchbacks on steep scree, still following the GR®57. Reach an intersection at the edge of the Torrent du Riff.

(5) Continue straight ahead on the GR®50 (red and white markings) and leave the GR®57 on your right. Descend without difficulty to Alpe du Lauzet.

(6) Continue straight ahead (south-west) on the GR®50. The marked path then heads south-south-west and then west. This will take you to the Pont de l'Alpe bridge.

(7) Carefully cross the D1091 and continue on the path opposite, still following the GR®.

(8) At a place called Le Lauzet (where you can buy supplies), you will come to a small road. Follow it to the right. At the T-junction, take the path on the right. Pass under a high-voltage power line and you will reach the Chapelle de Font Cibert chapel.

(9) Continue north-west and walk up the gently sloping Guisane valley. Stay roughly parallel to the high-voltage power line and pass under it twice. Reach the bank of the Guisane.

(10) Continue north-west and follow the river on your left. Pass under the high-voltage power line again and reach the Sainte-Madeleine Chapel.

(11) Continue along the GR® and pass under the high-voltage power line again. Walk west-northwest to an intersection.

(12) Turn left, cross a stream and head south-west.

(13) At an intersection, turn right and climb steeply. Join the D1091, follow it as it continues and you will quickly reach the Col du Lautaret (beware of heavy traffic). Superb view of the Meije massif.

(14) At the corner of the visitor centre, take a path on the right (still the GR®50). Cross a small road and continue on the path opposite. Descend, staying parallel to the D1091.

(15) Reach the road, cross it carefully and follow it to the right for about 30 metres. Then take a path on the left and continue downhill. Pass a hairpin bend on the D1091 on the right and continue westwards and downhill.

(16) At the crossroads, turn left and you will soon reach a small road. Follow this road to the left and cross the hamlet of Pied du Col. Continue along the road to reach Arsine (E).

(S) Refuge du Chardonnet 04 92 21 31 80.

(8) Supplies can be purchased in shops in Lauzet.

(14) Col du Lautaret: hotels, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, etc

(E) Accommodation options: Camping Pont d'Arsine 04 76 79 93 07. Lodge du Pas de l'Âne: 04 76 79 94 28.

Reading the novel "L'Attitude 45" – although not a guidebook – may inspire you to do this stage and give you some impressions of the route.

(4) North of the Col du Chardonnet, you can visit the old silver mines.

(E) Pont d'Arsine dam lake.